This is my simple EV3 robot design. It is very quick to build, uses very few pieces and has interchangeable attachments. This makes it very useful in a classroom setting. My Classroom Resource book - Classroom Activities for the Busy Teacher: EV3 utlisies it thoughout all the lessons.

If you do end up using this design in class, please let me know, I love to hear how far and wide throughout the world my design travels :)

Reader Comments (41)

Thank you for sharing. I am going to build this today and begin to play around with it a bit. I just attended LEAP a few weeks back so really immersing myself in all things EV3. I will let you know how things develop with your build.

Diego, the LDD has recently been updated to include the EV3 equipment in the Mindstorms theme. You need to open the boxed sets to see the available parts in the EV3 series. It is the "filter by sets" button at the bottom center of the parts selection pane.

Thanks for the robot design, it works really well and the instructions are nice and simple. I'm currently a student at Griffith University (Brisbane, QLD), if you want to add me to the map! Thanks again.

It sounds like you have the kit 31313 (commercial version), Kina. The RileyRover is designed to be built using the pieces available in the EV3 education version, as it is typically the one being used in classroom situations. Despite the apparent difference in spelling "caster", you may want to look for alternative methods for making this pivoting support point for the rear of the robot. A WWWeb search for caster ev3 may give you some suggestions. Alternatively the caster assembly is listed on the Lego education site for purchase.

I had education core and expansion, may be some can share the program from education software because i still use software home edition..ex. program for puppy, gyro robot, elephant etc.appreciate if you can help.thanks

Bukhory, unfortunately those example programs are part of the Education version software and cannot be released. You'll need to get purchase the software to get access to those programs. That being said however, there is no reason you can't write your own programs for those models!

Hi Damien!Remember I promised you that I would build the RileyRover. And I did. This design is really cool. However I do have a problem with the gyro. When I rotated the gyro in the vertical way just like the base robot that Lego Education has made, It gave me high values. However, you made the Gyro to lie horizontally flat. Giving me low angle values. So please modify the gyro attachment in the building instructions.Thanks!And by the way, our institution wishes to open up a strong partnership with you. I would send you an email regarding this.

Damien! You never fail to disappoint! I settled in to create Rileyrover and was done in 5 minutes! I am just floored by the simplicity of design, the conservation of parts and the thoughtfulness put into your instructional PDF's and making it available to the world. You have a loyal fan base growing among legions of schools in the Pacific NW of the US with your domabot design and your text and I predict the same with RileyRover and your newest addition. Thank you for doing what you're doing. You're helping hundreds of kids learn and love robotics around the world!

Top work Damo. Simple, few parts and strong. Just got our EV3 kits today and this is the first thing built. Are you Ok with me converting this to a LDD file for my students to follow ? Also might be worth noting that the Gyro arrangement as shown is good for measuring a slope but not so great for measuring angle of rotation.

Though I've been having the students build Riley for a while now, this is the first time I've looked closely at it. An earlier commenter asked about the orientation of the gyro and I echo that question. Was it put on sideways because you have an up/down activity in your book? I usually tell my students to change it so the arrows are on top and we can use it for turns. Just wondering. Bang-up job as usual!

Yes it was put on sideways to complement the up/down activity in the book. It's easy to switch it to left/right though if you want. I just find, especially for novice kids and teachers, that the up/down is a better start. The left/right is notoriously inaccurate and the up/down gives them the chance to have a successful outcome, and a start the discussion around things like 'drift' and resetting the gyro.

Hi Kent, I use a combination of MLCAD and LPUB to create the instructions. There is a steep learning curve, but the results are well worth it. If you're looking to teach LEGO CAD to students, I'd recommend LEGO Digital Designer instead.

This spring we started using RileyR at ExplorationWorks Science Center in Helena MT in our EV3 classes - it is so much easier than the standard build, and leaves more time for programming, and developing their own builds. EV3 is a bit harder than NXT - and your lesson plans and builds are making this system accessible to the eager younger kids.

FRC #2881 is using Riley Rover to introduce elementary school girls and boys to programming. We are a Girl Scout team from Texas working at a STEAM camp. The camp is a cooperation between Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Austin Independent School District to reach more young students and to keep them academically active during the summer months.